The Jalisco Ministry of Tourism (Secturjal) has announced that more than 1.8 million passengers have traveled to Puerto Vallarta by air during the first half of 2024. This milestone is part of a broader surge in air travel to the state, with Jalisco’s airports collectively welcoming 6 million visitors during this period.
According to data provided by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), the concessionaire for Jalisco’s airports, the Guadalajara International Airport served as the primary gateway, handling over 4 million passengers through 31,508 flights between January and June 2024. This figure marks an 18.6 percent increase compared to the same period in 2019, before the global pandemic significantly impacted the travel industry.
Meanwhile, Puerto Vallarta International Airport reported handling 1.8 million passengers from 16,031 flights in the first six months of 2024. This represents an impressive 34.1 percent increase from the first half of 2019, when 1.36 million travelers arrived in the popular coastal destination.
These figures highlight the effectiveness of Jalisco’s tourism promotion strategies, which have been instrumental in enhancing the state’s air connectivity. The efforts of the Government of Jalisco, in collaboration with airlines, tour operators, and the Pacific Airport Group, have contributed significantly to the state’s ability to attract an increasing number of visitors.
“Thanks to a solid tourism promotion strategy and our collaboration with strategic allies, such as airlines, tour operators, and Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), Jalisco has seen an 18.6 percent increase in air passengers compared to 2019,” said Vanessa Pérez Lamas, Secretary of Tourism. “This growth is particularly significant when compared to 2019, a pre-pandemic year, and underscores our improved position in terms of connectivity, especially with our two most important markets, the United States and Canada.”
In line with this expansion in connectivity, the Puerto Vallarta International Airport is set to introduce four new flight routes from key cities in the United States, starting in January 2025. The new routes will include direct flights from New York (commencing January 8, 2025), Sacramento (beginning January 11, 2025), and Kansas City and Saint Louis, Missouri (both launching on January 18, 2025).
These new routes are expected to significantly boost air traffic to Puerto Vallarta, offering an additional 1,200 seats per week. The introduction of these flights underscores the continued demand for travel to this popular tourist destination and aligns with the broader trend of increasing air connectivity to Jalisco.
